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EVOLUTIO: A Research Center for Evolution and Development

Evolutio Observatory

Institutional Ethical Behavior Observatory

About This Observatory

The Institutional Ethical Behavior Observatory (IEBO) is a factual record of institutional responses to documented claims of structural conceptual appropriation. It records dates, actions, and omissions. It does not record opinions, interpretations, or emotional responses. Its purpose is to provide a verifiable, citable chronology of how academic, editorial, and philanthropic institutions have responded — or failed to respond — to documented claims of intellectual appropriation.

The IEBO is distinct from the Conceptual Lineage Ethical Observatory (CLEO). The CLEO applies the CLEO Verification Protocol to determine whether a framework is structurally derivative of a sovereign original. The IEBO records what institutions do once such a determination has been made public.

Methodology

The IEBO records:

  • The date of each communication or event.
  • The institution involved.
  • The nature of the action (response, omission, referral, closure, etc.).
  • The supporting document, where available.

The IEBO does not record:

  • Assessments of intent.
  • Characterizations of institutional motives.
  • Predictions about future behavior.

All entries are based on documented correspondence and public records.

Michael Levin’s “Platonic Space” Case

Chronology of Events and Institutional Interactions

DateEventDocumentation
April 28, 2020Publication of the Evolutio Unfolding Theory (EUT) in the peer-reviewed journal Cosmos and History.[Link to article]
February 23, 2021Email to Michael Levin proposing collaboration, with explicit reference to the EUT and links to publications. Levin replies: “I will look at your papers and link.”[Link to correspondence]
March 29–31, 2024“Metaphysics and the Matter With Things: Thinking With Iain McGilchrist” conference, co-hosted by CIIS and CPS. Levin presents a talk on bioelectricity, collective intelligence, and regeneration. No mention of “Platonic Space.”[Link to conference program]
August 6, 2024Evolutio Newsletter: “EVOLUTIO: A Research Center for Evolution and Development.”Opened, Clicked
September 3, 2024Evolutio Newsletter: “EVOLUTIO NEWSLETTER: New Book (Exclusive Preview).”Opened, Clicked
September 11, 2024Evolutio Newsletter: “EVOLUTIO NEWSLETTER: New Teleological Theory of Evolution (plus Evidence).”Opened, Clicked [Link to newsletter]
February 5, 2025Levin posts the preprint “Ingressing Minds” on OSF/PsyArXiv, introducing the “Platonic Space” framework.[Link to preprint]
March 9, 2025Levin announces the preprint on his blog, stating it will be a chapter in a forthcoming anthology edited by Matthew Segall and Andrew Davis.[Link to blog post]
August 26, 2025Levin organizes a virtual “Symposium on the Platonic Space.” Twenty-eight contributors present weekly talks.[Link to symposium program]
October 3, 2025Publication of the preprint “The Evolutio Unfolding Theory: Teleology, Formal Agents, and the Reversal of Evolution’s Causal Order.”[Link to preprint]
October 27, 2025Evolutio Newsletter announcing the above preprint.Opened, Clicked
December 15, 2025Publication of the comparative essay “Evolutio Unfolding Theory and ‘Platonic Space’: On Conceptual Priority and Lineage” in The Unfolding.[Link to essay]
December 16, 2025Evolutio Newsletter announcing the comparative essay.Delivered
February 16, 2026First notification to Tufts University Research Integrity Office (RIO).[Link to letter]
February 24, 2026Second notification to Tufts RIO, providing additional evidence (2021 emails).[Link to letter]
March 4, 2026Third notification to Tufts RIO, summarizing evidence and stating that a formal complaint will follow if Levin publishes.[Link to letter]
March 5, 2026Evolutio Newsletter: “Evolutio Unfolding Theory and ‘Platonic Space’: On Conceptual Priority and Lineage.”Opened, Clicked
March 16, 2026Formal notification to CIIS, requesting publisher identification, halt of publication, and internal review.[Link to letter]
March 16, 2026Fourth notification to Tufts RIO, detailing the CIIS connection and requesting a formal inquiry, interim measures, and cessation of promotion.[Link to letter]
March 16, 2026Plagiarism complaint to OSF (PsyArXiv) regarding the preprint.[Link to complaint]
March 17, 2026Tufts RIO confirms in writing that it is conducting an “evaluation” according to relevant policies.[Email from K. Johnson]
April 4, 2026Submission to Tufts RIO of the 2021 correspondence with Levin and the comparative analysis.[Email]
June 13, 2026Request to Tufts RIO for the status of the “evaluation,” after nearly three months without update.[Email]
June 19, 2026Tufts RIO responds by citing the complainant’s own earlier statements to argue that this is not a “formal complaint”. Does not address the evaluation.[Email from K. Johnson]
June 20, 2026Clarification that the inquiry concerns the evaluation confirmed on March 17, not a formal complaint.[Email]
July 4, 2026Final notice: if no clarification is received, the evaluation will be considered abandoned.[Email]
July 6, 2026Tufts RIO states that the emails of June 20 and July 4 were “flagged as spam”.[Email from K. Johnson]
July 7, 2026Specific questions about the evaluation: steps, duration, possible outcomes, binding nature.[Email]
July 10, 2026Tufts RIO closes the case: “you have not made any credible and specific allegations”. Invites a formal complaint if desired.[Email from K. Johnson]
July 13, 2026Escalation to Bernard Arulanandam (Vice Provost for Research) and Joseph Auner (Provost).[Email]
August 4, 2026Request to Tufts RIO for the documented report of the evaluation. No response.[Email]
August 10, 2026Formal complaint to Biological Theory (Springer Nature) regarding the citation of the disputed preprint in Chirimuuta (2026).[Email to K. Lala]
August 10, 2026Formal complaint to Physics of Life Reviews (Elsevier) regarding the citation of the disputed preprint in Hartl et al. (2026).[Email to J. Fontanari]
August 10, 2026Formal complaint to Bioelectricity (SAGE) regarding the citation of the disputed preprint in Levin (2026).[Email to SAGE]
August 12, 2026Kevin Lala responds: “I will look into this matter and discuss it with my colleagues”.[Email from K. Lala]
August 18, 2026Lala: “we will decide if an editorial note of concern is appropriate in our own time“.[Email from K. Lala]
August 21, 2026SAGE acknowledges receipt and confirms it will follow the case in line with COPE.[Email from SAGE]
September 2, 2026Follow-up to SAGE.[Email]
September 3, 2026Lala: “the research is still ongoing”.[Email from K. Lala]
September 3, 2026Bingmeng Chen (Elsevier) acknowledges receipt and requests time.[Email from B. Chen]
September 4, 2026Formal complaint to Springer Nature Research Integrity Group (RIG) regarding Lala’s handling.[Email]
September 4, 2026Springer RIG acknowledges receipt the same day.[Email from Springer RIG]
September 4, 2026Pre-publication notification to Taylor & Francis regarding Levin’s chapter in Open Questions in Developmental Biology.[Email to T&F]
September 4, 2026Gerhard Schlosser responds: “there is nothing about ‘Platonic spaces’ in the chapter”. A lexical, not conceptual, response.[Email from G. Schlosser]
September 4, 2026T&F Ethics acknowledges receipt and confirms investigation.[Email from T&F]
September 9, 2026Levin publishes “Ingressing Minds” in Philosophies (MDPI) 11(5), 161.[DOI]
September 10, 2026Formal complaint to MDPI Research Integrity & Publication Ethics.[Email]
September 10, 2026Formal complaint of research misconduct (plagiarism) against Dr. Michael Levin, submitted to the Tufts Office of the Vice Provost for Research, as previously announced in the March 4 notification if the “Platonic Space” framework were published.[Email to Arulanandam and Auner]
September 11, 2026Formal complaint to John Templeton Foundation (JTF).[Email]
September 11, 2026Formal complaint to Templeton World Charity Foundation (TWCF).[Email]
September 11, 2026MDPI RIG acknowledges receipt and confirms evaluation in line with COPE.[Email from MDPI RIG]
September 12, 2026Formal complaint to Allen Institute / Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group.[Email]
September 14, 2026Kevin Lala closes the case unilaterally: “I now consider the matter closed”.[Email from K. Lala]
September 14, 2026Second notification to Springer RIG reporting Lala’s closure.[Email]
September 15, 2026Meg McClellan (Allen Institute) responds with a “desk rejection” and refers the matter to Allen Family Philanthropies (AFP).[Email from M. McClellan]
September 16, 2026Formal report to AFP under its Whistleblower Policy.[Email]
September 16, 2026Agustina Pérez Ryan (Publisher, Springer Nature) acknowledges receipt of the case personally.[Email from A. Pérez Ryan]
September 16, 2026Second communication to Tufts OVPR with the full “formal complaint”. No response.[Email]
September 17, 2026Institutional compliance review request to the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) regarding Tufts.[Email]
September 17, 2026ORI acknowledges receipt automatically, with reference to 42 CFR Part 93.[Email from ORI]
September 17, 2026Nick Higgs (TWCF) acknowledges receipt and assigns case number TWCF0606.[Email from N. Higgs]
September 17, 2026Follow-up to JTF for lack of acknowledgment.[Email]
September 18, 2026MDPI RIG responds regarding CoI on the Editorial Board and the Expression of Concern.[Email from MDPI RIG]
September 21, 2026Matthew Walhout (JTF) responds: refers the matter to Tufts as responsible for oversight.[Email from M. Walhout]
September 21, 2026MDPI RIG responds: “we cannot provide you with an expected date for resolution”.[Email from MDPI RIG]
September 21, 2026Notice of escalation to the MDPI Legal Department (Cease & Desist) if the requested urgent precautionary measure —an Expression of Concern— was not issued within five business days. CC to legal@mdpi.com.[Email]
September 21, 2026Second notice: “Noted. None of my three requests was addressed” (CC to legal@mdpi.com). No response.[Email]
September 22, 2026Follow-up to JTF, invoking 26 CFR § 53.4945-5 and the duty to investigate.[Email to M. Walhout]

Synthesis by Institution

InstitutionType of responseCurrent status
Tufts University (RIO / OVPR)Closure without investigation (July 10). No response to the formal complaint (September 10). Total silence.Under review by ORI
Springer Nature (Biological Theory / RIG)Lala closed the case unilaterally (September 14). Pérez Ryan acknowledged receipt (September 16).Assessment in progress
MDPI (Philosophies)Rapid but empty responses. Silence following the second ultimatum.Ultimatum expired (September 25) → escalation to legal (September 28)
Elsevier (Physics of Life Reviews)Acknowledgment of receipt (September 3). No resolution.Pending (42 days)
SAGE (Bioelectricity)Acknowledgment of receipt (August 21). No resolution.Pending (31 days)
Taylor & FrancisAcknowledgment of receipt (September 4). Lexical response from Schlosser.Pending (book release: October 12)
John Templeton FoundationInitial silence. Evasive response (September 21): refers to Tufts.Pending response to follow-up
Templeton World Charity FoundationAcknowledgment with case number TWCF0606 (September 17).Investigation in progress
Allen Family PhilanthropiesNo response to the report under its Whistleblower Policy (September 16).No response
Allen InstituteDesk rejection (September 15). Referral to AFP.Closed
Office of Research Integrity (ORI)Automatic acknowledgment (September 17).Preliminary assessment